Alexander Gioe
Mrs. Trahan
English II
2 November 2016
Post-Classical and Classical China There are many similarities and differences in Post-Classical China. Two major time periods in Chinese history are the Classical and Post-Classical period. Religion, political structure, social and economic structure influenced many aspects of the Classical and Post-Classical China period. The main belief system in Classical China is Confucianism. Confucianism was based on the teaching of Confucius and it focused on superior and inferior relationships (Kim). Confucius was a teacher of ethical and political views and he believed superior individuals should run the government. They needed to rule with kindness and do what they think is best for everyone …show more content…
They stated that the gods chose their rulers. This was called The Mandate of Heaven (Henderson). Leaders adopted Legalism to enforce their rule and superiority. The emperors used their advanced armies and iron tools to expand their empire. The Qin Dynasty was organized in a centralized beaucracy. The Qin used Legalism’s strict codes and punishments. Shihuangdi, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, unified China with military campaigns. People who opposed the emperor were executed (Strayer 133, 134). Shihuangdi also built the Great Wall of China to keep the northern Nomads out of China. He also imposed a standard system for weights measures, and currency. The other Classical Chinese Dynasty was the Han. The Han used the Qin’s beaucracy, but moderated the harshness. The basis for government structure was family hierarchy. The Han Dynasty also heavily increased trade all throughout China (Strayer 134-136). In the Han’s military conquest China took some of the northern nomads land and also parts of Korea and South East Asia came under their control (Strayer 137). After the fall of the Han Dynasty China was left in fragments. The Sui Dynasty reunited China with the extension of canals. The Sui soon ended and the Tang and Song Dynasties took over. The central government and beaucracy from Classical China remained (Strayer 367). The Tang Dynasty adopted an exam system that helped select government officials. China viewed themselves as the center of the universe and everyone else was barbarians (Strayer 373, 374). Since China thought they were better than everyone else they came up with a tribute system. In theory the non-Chinese authorities had to acknowledge that Chinese authorities were superior. The non-Chinese authorities would have to pay a tribute or tax to trade with China. The tribute system did not work well in
Mrs. Trahan
English II
2 November 2016
Post-Classical and Classical China There are many similarities and differences in Post-Classical China. Two major time periods in Chinese history are the Classical and Post-Classical period. Religion, political structure, social and economic structure influenced many aspects of the Classical and Post-Classical China period. The main belief system in Classical China is Confucianism. Confucianism was based on the teaching of Confucius and it focused on superior and inferior relationships (Kim). Confucius was a teacher of ethical and political views and he believed superior individuals should run the government. They needed to rule with kindness and do what they think is best for everyone …show more content…
They stated that the gods chose their rulers. This was called The Mandate of Heaven (Henderson). Leaders adopted Legalism to enforce their rule and superiority. The emperors used their advanced armies and iron tools to expand their empire. The Qin Dynasty was organized in a centralized beaucracy. The Qin used Legalism’s strict codes and punishments. Shihuangdi, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, unified China with military campaigns. People who opposed the emperor were executed (Strayer 133, 134). Shihuangdi also built the Great Wall of China to keep the northern Nomads out of China. He also imposed a standard system for weights measures, and currency. The other Classical Chinese Dynasty was the Han. The Han used the Qin’s beaucracy, but moderated the harshness. The basis for government structure was family hierarchy. The Han Dynasty also heavily increased trade all throughout China (Strayer 134-136). In the Han’s military conquest China took some of the northern nomads land and also parts of Korea and South East Asia came under their control (Strayer 137). After the fall of the Han Dynasty China was left in fragments. The Sui Dynasty reunited China with the extension of canals. The Sui soon ended and the Tang and Song Dynasties took over. The central government and beaucracy from Classical China remained (Strayer 367). The Tang Dynasty adopted an exam system that helped select government officials. China viewed themselves as the center of the universe and everyone else was barbarians (Strayer 373, 374). Since China thought they were better than everyone else they came up with a tribute system. In theory the non-Chinese authorities had to acknowledge that Chinese authorities were superior. The non-Chinese authorities would have to pay a tribute or tax to trade with China. The tribute system did not work well in